Kamalaratne v. Samaratunge – sllr 1998 volume 2 page 288

In the case between Kamalaratne (Plaintiff) and Samaratunge (Defendant), the court addressed the interpretation and application of the Agrarian Services Act, focusing on the issue of whether a tenant cultivator’s engagement of hired agricultural labour—particularly by participating jointly in reaping—amounts to a statutory breach leading to the loss of cultivation rights. It was held that due to the express inclusion of the phrase “jointly with any other person” in the amended statute, such joint operations with hired labour do not result in forfeiture of the status of tenant cultivator. The principle reaffirmed was that statutory amendments must be properly construed to avoid misapplication of the law. Significant reliance was placed on relevant provisions of the Agrarian Services Act, es